Combined fuel vaporizer and auxiliary air-inlet device



Bmz H. s. KNIGHT COMBINED FUEL VAPORIZER AND AXILIARY AIR INLET DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1926 1 ramas aus. 7, L192s.

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imputation filed August e, 192e. serial No. 128,218.

This invention relates to `a novel combined fuel vaporizer and auxiliary air inletdevice and particularly to a. `fuel vaporizer Vadapted to be disposed between the outlet of the carburetor and the inlet of the inlet manifold of an 1 internal combustion engine.

Among the several objects of the inventionA is the `provision of an improved con-` Vstruction of this character' which will be highly efficient in use and economical `in manufacture.

A further object of the Ainvention is the provision of a vaporizer adapted to be associated with a carburetor and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine for effectively vaporizing` fuel before it passes from the carburetor tothe intake manifold. 'This is accomplished by providing Va body having an inlet and outlet opening adapted for communication with the outlet and inlet '4 of a carburetor and intalre manifold respectively and said body being formed to define a plurality of compartments in communication with eachother to lprovide a passage for the fuel from the carburetor through `the vaporizerl andinto the manifoldand the vaporizer lis constructed in a manner so as to admit heated atmospheric air tothe fuel as it passes through the compartments. `It is pointed out that from the description hereinafter set forth it will`be manifest that4 the communication from one compartment i to the preceding compartment takes place from the bottom of the said one compartment to the top of the said preceding compartment thereby assuring complete passage of the vaporized fuel. This results from the fact that as fuel vaporizes'the most explosive by providing an outlet at the bottom of each of the compartments this explosive component part of the fuel is forced Vto find 'exit from the compartments. Y Y Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention. .consists in the novel combination an'd'arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing` showing the preferred form of construction and in which;y y

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevationalview of an intake manifold and la side elevational ,view of a carburetor illustrating the invention kassociated therewith; f

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional detailview taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Y Figz 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line; l1--4 of Fig.V 2.

To accomplish the various objects of the invention provide a cylindrical body l() 'having a removable top wall 11 defining an outlet opening 12 and a bottom wall 13 delining a centrally located opening 14 for the passage of the shank portion 15 of a nipple 1G. This nipple 16` delines a flange 17 which is secured to the flange 18 of the outlet noch 2O of the carburetor 21 by means of bolts 19. The'interior end portion of the nipple 15 is swedged inwardly as at Q3 to define a restricted passage 24 as best shown in Fig. 3.

The top wall 11 defines a lateral bossQ to which is connected a flange 2G of an intake manifold 2T throughthe medium of bolts 28. i

` Arranged in the cylindrical body 1() is a second body 29 definingr a coolingr cliaii'iber 80 and a heatingI chamber 31, the body 29 being disposed in spaced relation `with the bottom wa-ll 18 and this body defines to- `gether with acylindrical body 10 and its bottom wall'13 an expansion chamber 32 in communication with mixing chambers 33 through the medium ofv stud pipes 311-. These stud pipes 3a have their upper end port-ions swedged inwardly as at 35 to define restricted passages 3G while `the lower end portions of these stud pipes define outwardly flaring end portions 37 to provide enlarged entrance openings 38. I

`,The mixing chambers 323 communi ate with a (',lischarge chamber 3S) tlirougli the medium of conduits 40, F 2 and 3. Ar-

ranged within the `discharge chamber 39 which chamber functions as alinal expansion chamber, is aV plate t1 defining' depending tubes -Qifhaving their lower cnd portions flared outwardly to define'enlarged mouths n L13 and these tubes 4:2 open communication between the chamber 89 and tlie'intaliemanifold 27. Y

As shown in Fig@ 3 these tubes l2 have their 4lower end portions disposed a predetermined distance above the top walled of the body 29 for reasons herein explained. Likewise it will be noted in Fig'. 3 that the lower end portions of the stud pipes 84 are disposed a predetermined distance from the A Vnipple 16 and stud pipcs'l4 and these projec-` confined p which communicates with the air supply bottom wall 13 whereas the-upper end portions of these stud pipes are disposed a predetermined distance from the adjacent wall portions d of the body 29. The bottom wall 46 and the wall portions l5 define de-A pending projections 4:7 which are disposed centrally of the upper' end portions of the tions are substantially `=-shaped in cross section to provide defiecting side walls 48. Y

Communicating with the heating cham.- ber 3l is aninlet opening 49, Fig. 3, and this inlet opening is in communication through the medium of a conduit- 49 with an exhaust manifold 50l of an internal combustion engine with which the intake manifold 27 is associated and the arrangement is such that the exhaust will find entrance into the heatn ing chamber and circulate around and heat a conduit 50 after which the exhaust will,

find exit through an outlet opening 5l', Fig; 3. This conduit 50rhas its end portions 52 connected in communication with the stud pipes 34 intermediate their end portions and the intermediate portion of this conduit is ibstantially U-sliaped with the limb portions 53 thereof confined inV the heating chamber 31. The bight portion 54 of this coiiduitvis confined in the air supplying chamber 30 herein referred to as a cooling chamber. This bight portion defines 'ma valve seat 55 which is adapted `for engagement with a valve head 56 carried by a stem 57 in turn carried by a bridging plate 58 havingopposite end portions connected to end portions of'thermostatic elements 59 Vwhich elements have their lower end portions connected as at 60 to adjacentwall portions 61.01 the body 29. The stem4 57 `carries'a bevel gear 62 which is adapted under certain conditions, thatl` is when the thermostatic elements are inoperative and the valve head Vin itsuppermost position, with the bevel gear G3 carried by the operating shaft (34. This ope-rating shaft is in an entranceV chamber 31 Vchamber 30 and admission of air to this chamber is permitted through aninlet opening formed inthe cylindrical body `10.

, VThe operating` shaft Git is rotatably supi- Vported by the body 29 through the medium ofbrackets G6, Fig. 4, and thisV operating shaft (-34, defines at its outer end portion a `knob 67 which affords manual manipulation of the operating rod.

In use my improved carburetor attach'- ment is confined between the outletV of an intake manifold of Van internal combustion engineand the outlet of carburetoias best shown in Fig. lof the drawing and the vaporize'r is secured in position; to the flanges v18 and 2 6 through the medium of the bolts 19 and 28. A certain amount of Vfuel as'it passes through the carburetor 2l will bepartiallyrvagioriacd.` i' However, there i willbe a considerable amount of condensation mixed with-thevaporized fuel. This Apartially vapoiized fuel passes upwardly through the nipple 16 andstriles the deflectingV surface i8 of the wallG. These surfaces deflect the partially vaporized fuel downwardly within the: expansion chamber After considerable expansion of the partially vaporized fuel tpassesu-pwardly,

from `the bottom of the expansion chamber 32 through the stud pipes 3st intothe mixing chambers 33atthetopsthereof. During the passage of the vpartially vaporized fuel throueh the stud pines 3d a certainV b .L Y

amount of/air is drawn through theconduit 50; This air iscooled air frointhe chamber 30 and isheated as. itpasses ,through the ilimb portions 53' into-the end portions of the conduits to nd confinement in the mix ing chambers bythe exhaust which is admitted vto the heating chamber through the inlet opening 49.V F rom "the mixing chaiii- Y bei' 33 vthe 'fuelis lpracticall-.y completely vapor-1aed and the now vaporized fuelfinds exit into .the discharge chamber 39 through the tubes V42 from the bottom of this discharge chamber up through theintalre Inanifold and thence into the combustion chambers of the internal 'combustion engine.

50 and.V whenthis isv thecase the thermo-v static elements will operatefin a well'known manner and movethevalye head 5G into .closing` position with rrespectto the valve seat 55.. As the temperature of the -atmosf plieric air. lowers the thermostatic elements will likewiseV operatein a known manner` andY open the entrance to' `the conduitV 50 according to the lowering ture of the atmospheric air. l p y v These thermostatic elements are Yonly diaof the tempera- Y graminatically illustrated inthe drawing i land they do not per seforina part of the 'present inventionas any.approved style of the'rinostatic elements may be used..

i I have found by experience that by the employment of my 'vaporizer fuel as it leaves the carburetor is more readily vaporized thereby increasing the1 power ofthe internal combustion` engine lengthening the A'mileage per gallon of fuel.

While I have Vshown and describedV the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, itiwill be` apparent that various variations and modifications can' be resortedto without departing from :the spirit of the invention. therefore, doV

not desire to be limited tothe precise details of constructionset Jforth, but Wish to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come- Within `the-scope of the appended claims. o i

The invention having been set forth, what l claim as. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device oi the class described including an outer body 'defining an inlet and outlet opening, an inner body confined Within the outer bodyand dividing the outer body into an expansion chamber, a mixing chamber, and a Ydischarge chamber, said discharge chamber being in communication ivith said outlet opening said vmixing chamber being in communication ivith said discharge chamber and said expansion chamber beingin communication With Vthe inlet opening, said inner body delining an air supply chamber and Aa heating chamber, means opening com- .inunication from the bottom portion of the expansion chamber to the top 'portion of the mixing chamber, and a member in communication with said means having thermostatically operated passage controlling i. means therein andv defining a portion conlined in and in communication With the air `supply chamber and portions confined in the heating chamber, said member being adapted todeliver atmospheric air from the air supply chamber to the mixing chamber, Vand said heating chamber being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold of aninternal combustion engine and the exhaust gas being adapted to heat the air as delivered by the member to said `defining an air supply chamberand a heating chamber, means opening Vcommunication from the bottom portion of the expansion chamber to the top portion of the mixing chamber, and a member in Vcommunication with said means having vthermostatically operated passage controlling means therein and delining a portion confined in and'. in communication with the air supply chamber and portions confined in the heating chamber, said member being adapted to deliver atmospheric air from the air supply chamber to the mixing chamber, said heating chamber being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the exhaust manitoldof an internal combustion engine and the exhaust gas being adapted to heat the air as delivered by-the member to said means, and means for controlling the passage of atmospheric air from the air supply chamber to said member.

3. A-device of the class described including an outer body defining an inlet and outlet opening, an inner body conlined Within the outer body and dividing the outer body into an expansion chamber,` a mixing chamber, and a discharge chamber, said discharge chamber beingin communication with said outletopening; said mixing chamber being in ncommunication with said discharge opening `and said expansion chamber being in communication with the inlet opening, said inner body deiining an air supply chamber and a heating chamber, means opening communication from the bottom `portion oi" the expansion chamber to the top portion of the mixing' chamber, and a member in communication with said means having thermostatically operated passage controlling means therein and deiining a portion confined in and in communication with the air supply chamber and portions conlined in the heating chamber, said member being adapted to deliver atmospheric air from the air supply chamberto the mixing chamber, and said heating chamber being adapted to receive exhaust-gas from the exhaust manifold oi `an internal combustion engine, and the exhaust being adapted to heat the air as delivered by the member to said means, means controlling the admission of atmospheric air to said member from said air supply chamber and thermostatic elements controlling said last mentioned means.

4. A device including an outer body delining an inlet and an outlet opening, an inner body confined Within the outer body and 'dividing the outer body into an expansion chamber, mixing chambers, and a discharge chamber, said inner body defining a heating ohamben said discharge chamber being in communication with the outlet opening and said expansion chamber being in communication With the inlet opening, means opening communication from the bottom portion oit the expansion chamber Vand theV top portion of the mixing chambers, conduits opening communication from the bottom portion oiV the mixing chambers to the top portion of the discharge chamber, a conductor pipe having end portions in communication with said means, said conductor pipe dening an intermediate portion bent substantially U-shaped, the bight portion oi said U-shaped portion being confined in and in communication with the air supply chamber, and the remaining portion of the U- shaped portion being eoniined in the heating chamber, said air supply chamber being adapted to deliver atmospheric air to said conductor pipe and said heating chamber being adapted for communication With the liit! engine, and thermostatically operated means Y 'for controlling delivery ot atmospheric air from the air supply chamber to the conductor pipe. Y

5. A device including an outer body deiining an inlet and outlet opening, an inner body coniined'within,the outer bodyyand dividing the outer body into an expansion chamber, mixing chambers, and a discharge chamber, said inner body defining a heating chamber said discharge chamber being in communication Vith the outlet opening and said expansion chamber being in communication with the inlet opening, means opening communication from vthe bottom portiontoi' the expansion chamber and the top portion ofV the mixing chambers, conduits opening communication from the bottom portionV oi' the mixing chambers to the top portion of the discharge chamber, a conductor pipe having end portions in communication With said means, said conductor pipe deiining an intermediate portion bent substantially U- shaped, the bight portion of said U-shaped member being eonined in and in communication with the air supply chamber and the remaining portion of the U-shaped `portion being coniined in the heating chamber,said air supply chamber being adapted to deliverV atmospheric anl to said conductorpipe and saidy heating chamber being adapted for communication with an exhaust manifold of anv internal combustion engine, means regulating the admission of atmosphericiair from the air supply chamber to `,the conductor. pipe, and thermostatic Velements for controlling said regulatingmeans.

6. A Vdevice 'of the class described including a body defining a plurality of compart .ments and an inletopcning and an outlet opening, said compartments being in communication with each other and said communication being from to the bottom portion of one compartment to thetopportion of the other compartment, a nipple; projecting through the inlet opening Within the body, 'a second body confined Within the iirst mentioned body and defining a mixing cham` ber and an air snpplychamber, said second body having a bottoni wail deiining'deiiecting surfaces extending into the nipple, and

thermostatically operated Vmeans Vfor de-` liverinen atmos aheric air `from the air su 3 'l-T chamber to certain of the first VmentionedVV compartments, said last named means having thermostat-ically operated means therein for i controlling air passage therethrough said means conducting said atmospheric; air through a heating chamber.v

In testimony Whe-reetl aitix my signature.

K HERSCHEL S. KNIGHT; Y 

